NEWSLETTER
|
UNITED KINGDOM Association NEWSLETTER |
| No 165 | April 2001 |
Belated Happy New Year to all members.
Firstly some reports from events held at the end of last year.
Like other recent events the presentation was well attended by IEAust members but poorly supported by team IPENZ UK.
The committee go to a lot of effort to cater for members by arranging technical meetings and functions. These provide a great way of catching up with fellow members, liaison with the committee, gaining some CPD credits and not least learning something and having the odd beer at the same time !!
On a more positive note this years presentation was by Greg Cray, one of the Pricewaterhouse Coopers Management Consultancy partners, who's specialisation is in Mobile communications and emerging mobile technologies. This was a very thought provoking talk from Greg about the current mobile market, and new technologies such as WAP and value added services from providers such as Vodafone and BT Cellnet.
Greg then went on to talk about the future as he thinks it hold. One thing is certain from Greg's talk, it will be totally new, exciting (to some), daunting and unfathomable to others. Traditional understanding of telecommunications is being changed, as companies such as Yahoo emerge offering content, internet portals and telecommunications.
It will not be long with the Sony / Universal deal with Yahoo before it will be possible to find and download your favourite song into your mobile handset and play it back either through the phone or what ever device you would like (i.e. your desktop computer, or TV without having to connect any wires - using communications technologies called Bluetooth and UMTS).
It won't be long before your "personal communicator" will do everything for you, manage your diary, store all your entertainment (music, video), be your phone/ video conferencing facility, address book etc.
During the talk this raised the primary question of, do we really want this?
An answer to that is did we really think we'd use e-mail?
[I particularly liked the idea that my fridge would soon be able to order its own milk although I am not quite sure how it gets from the gate to the fridge. !!- Ed]. Our thanks go to Gordon Weir, Greg Cray and the team at Pricewaterhouse Coopers for stepping into the breach and organising the event for us and to IEAust UK members for supporting the event so well.
A very enjoyable time was had by all with plentiful platters and numerous beverages. The company wasn't bad either! Well done IEAust UK.
This years Pre Christmas Soirée will be hosted by IPENZ UK in the Penthouse of New Zealand House on 7th December 2001. The Penthouse is always a favourite for its fine views of central London including the London Eye along the Thames. So put the date to put in your diaries for the equivalent fixture this year.
Welcome to the first Chairman's corner article. Since being voted to the position of Chairman of the UK Association at the AGM last year you probably haven't heard from or of me since (unless you were at the Joint Technical presentation). So I decided to instigate the "Chairman's Corner", which, I would normally like to make a spirited discussion of what the committee has achieved and make it an opportunity to prompt you to get along to coming events... But it's a gripe, which probably isn't the best way to start a regular slot! Or perhaps this it is an opportunity for me to start a healthy debate, which I intend to continue at the AGM on 6 June. I want to post the question; What is the role of IPENZ - UK?
I think that for some "regulars" its something they believe in, if you know the committee members, then you know whom I'm referring to. Or it's a vehicle to get registration in a UK engineering organisation such as IEE, ImechE or ICE - by first attaining M.IPENZ here in the UK or to attain M.IPENZ just before returning to New Zealand.
But surely we should be able to add more value to the UK members? My thoughts on what it could and should be:
IPENZ is an opportunity to gain a great deal. To be involved as a professional review interviewer, although time consuming, is an opportunity to learn and develop professionally as well as share in a part of another's professional development.
Attendance at a technical session or talk is part of your continued professional development (CPD). And an opportunity for networking with other like minded Engineers, or at least have a drink with an old University friend...
Or am I missing the point? I want you all to think about this over the coming two months leading up to the AGM, because I will challenge you with this question.
"What is there an IPENZ UK Association here for?"
I'm very interested in gathering your views!
Your committee has agreed to schedule Professional Reviews twice a year in October and May rather than the on call basis of previous years. This therefore means that reports will need to be submitted early March and early August. It was felt that the candidates should be able to continue working in the UK for at least 6 months after the review.
A volunteer is required to act as Professional Review Coordinator to assist the committee in this regard (see also below). If you are interested, please contact the Chairman or the Hon Secretary.
The AGM of the Association will be held at the offices of Pricwaterhouse Coopers on Wednesday 6th June at 6.30 p.m. Please note the change of venue. The AGM will start promptly to properly precede the Annual Reception and discussion, which will follow immediately after at approximately 7.00 p.m.
The Agenda, minutes of the last AGM and copies of the Accounts for 2000/2001 will be available at the meeting.
Nominations are invited for the posts of Chairman, Honorary Auditor, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and the Committee for the year 2001/2002. We are also looking for volunteers to fulfil in the extremely important role of Professional Review Coordinator and officers to assist with the production of the newsletter and database management. Send nominations signed by the proposer, seconder and nominee to the Honorary Secretary at the Association's address. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the meeting.
We are all grateful for the time and effort that the Committee has put in over the past year.
So, please come along and take part in the meeting. This event is your best opportunity to make your views known on what we should do, what we should be, and anything else relevant to our function.
Annual General Meeting and Annual Reception 2001
It is time to look ahead to the Annual General Meeting in June and organise ourselves for the year that follows. Some bookings have already been made for further events this year but there is still plenty of scope for the new committee to arrange more events.
.... and afterwards the Annual Reception and Discussion.
The Annual Reception releases the members who have toiled through the AGM into the agreeable task of meeting together with all the others who have come along, and to enjoy a time of pleasant eating, drinking and discourse with old and new friends. There will be plenty to discuss following the AGM. Be sure to be there. Reply promptly please by returning the enclosed slip to the Honorary Secretary as soon as you can.
Note the details.
| Location: | Pricewaterhouse Coopers No 1 Embankment, London |
| Date: | Wednesday, 6th June 2001 |
| Time: | AGM - 6.15 pm for 6.30 pm, Reception/Discussion - 7.00 pm |
| Price: | £13.00 per head for members and their guests to cover food and drinks. |
Articles for the Newsletter
If you have any news for us, events, etc., that you would like us to tell people about in the newsletter, please e-mail or fax them to the Hon. Secretary. Feel free to write about the projects you are working on, any differences in British practice compared with NZ, or how you resolved any particular difficulties encountered.
Professional Reviews
IPENZ UK conducts Professional Reviews in this country and many successful candidates have been able to apply for Chartered Engineer status under reciprocal agreements with UK Institutions. Many of our long term members have conducted interviews themselves and know what standards the examiners are seeking. Our Graduate Engineers encompass nearly the full range of the profession. We often struggle to get interviewers with experience in the candidates discipline particularly electrical, process, water, power, technology disciplines and hence we would like as many long term Corporate members and fellows as possible to offer their services to undertake reviews.
If you can assist or are a Graduate seeking further information or advice, please contact the Hon Secretary so that he can match up Graduates and Corporate members for possible informal mentoring. Remember that all time spent participating in these types of activities counts towards Continuing Professional Development.
Graduates Evening
There has been some interest expressed in this already this year.
IPENZ UK will be holding a Graduate Evening in the Southern Cross pub in October/November. The evening is traditionally very successful with our technical coordinator giving a presentation on corporate membership routes and professional review requirements. In the meantime, if you have any questions about professional review requirements please contact the Chairman or Hon Secretary.
Dates for Your Diary
| Joint Technical Meeting with IEAust | To Be Advised |
| IPENZ UK Association AGM | Wednesday, 6 June 2001 |
| IPENZ BBQ | Sunday, 5 or 12 August 2001 |
| Graduates Evening | Thursday, 25 October or 1 November 2001 |
| Christmas Soirée at New Zealand House | Friday, 7 December 2001 |
| Possible failure/problem evening | To Be Advised |
| Traffic Management talk | To Be Advised |
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